ROCKET GIRL Jets to the Past

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Jennifer de Guzman

Time-traveling graphic novel in stores in July

DaYoung Johannson is the eponymous ROCKET GIRL in the new Image Comics graphic novel by Brandon Montclare (HALLOWEEN EVE) and Amy Reeder (HALLOWEEN EVE, Madame Xanadu, Batwoman). She’s a teenage time cop from the jet-pack-packing, flying-car-driving future that science fiction fans dream of, and she’s burst back in time to 1986 to stop Quintim Mechanics from committing a crime against time. The only problem is that once she’s there, Dayoung realizes that her 2013 isn’t even supposed to exist!

With snappy dialogue, endearing characters, and eye-popping art, ROCKET GIRL VOLUME 1: TIMES SQUARED whizzes between two time periods in New York City — gritty, corrupt, big-haired 1986 and shiny, (seemingly) utopian 2013, as DaYoung unravels secrets she didn’t even know she was keeping and faces what it means to grow up when you might not have a future.

“Throughout life there are always going to be hard choices. Growing up is largely seeing that things are complicated and that there are no simple answers,” said writer Montclare in an interview at Comic Book Resources. “Rocket Girl plays with that idea; plays the balance between admiring Dayoung's hard principles and fretting over her naivety.”

Artist Reeder described her approach to drawing DaYoung in the interview. “She's got no shortage of courage. And almost too much heart and passion, which is fun to incorporate into a character who at first glance might appear frail or even lacking substance,” she said of the waify protagonist. “So visually it's turning her from wisp to whip. That's both in the physical strength that underlies her grace as well as in her quick expressions. Facial expressions are a big deal to me and teenagers are especially great to work with because they are either stifling their thoughts or flying off the handle. Both are extreme, in their own way. So when Dayoung shows any emotion, it's almost always with her heart on her sleeve.”

While inspired by Back to the Future 2, The Fifth Element, and Akira, ROCKET GIRL is a completely original take on time travel and coming-of-age, a must-read for lovers of adventure, science fiction, and retro-cool alike. Specially priced at just $9.99, the first volume, TIME SQUARED, will be in comic book stores on July 9 and bookstores on July 22.

“In the days where it feels like every editorial note passed down in the comics industry reads ‘Needs more grit,’ Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder are a breath of fresh air with this hyper-kinetic adventure romp.” – David Henderson, Multiversity Comics

More of Rocket Girl

Rocket Girl #5

May 21, 2014

The hard-hitting conclusion to the first story arc! Teen time-cop DaYoung Johansson uncovers a thing or two about both New York Cities, the connection between past and future, and the secrets that people don’t even know they keep. Growing up is hard to do—and sometimes it proves to be impossible.

“With its verve, underplayed humor and electric visuals, ROCKET GIRL #1 is one of the strongest debuts of 2013” –CBR

Rocket Girl #4

March 19, 2014

The book everyone is talking about has plenty more surprises locked, loaded, and ready to shoot you in the face. It’s all-out action in this issue with a rocket chase through the graffiti-littered subway tunnels of NYC. DaYoung is stuck in the '80s, with only her jetpack and wits to help the teenager crack a time-spanning conspiracy. Rocket Girl will get the who, what, where, when, and why — and deliver the wham!

Rocket Girl #3

December 31, 2013

Changing the future is hard to do. Sparks fly when DaYoung becomes Most Wanted in two different New York Cities. Police in battling timestreams — 1986 and an alternate 2013 — want to get their girl. But bringing her in is going to take a coordinated effort from a mysterious player who straddles both worlds.

"This is Amy and Brandon firing on all cylinders. I'm blown away by all the life and energy in this book (and the mind-boggling backgrounds!). I can't wait to see more of DaYoung." — ROSS CAMPBELL (GLORY, Wet Moon)

Rocket Girl #2

November 13, 2013

Teen future-cop DaYoung Johansson hits 1980s NYC like a meteor. People can't get enough of the Rocket Girl: she's fighting crime, saving citizens, and causing a sensation. But she's also trying to right a wrong in a mystery so deep it could change the future forever. There's a lot more going on here than anyone knows about — and it might be more than the 15-year-old super detective can handle.

"A time-travelling teen police force is the stuff my dreams are made of. It's drawn elegantly and masterfully by Amy Reeder. It looks like she and Brandon Montclare came up with the perfect story to go wild on."

—FIONA STAPLES, artist of the Eisner Award-winning ongoing series SAGA

Rocket Girl #1

October 9, 2013

A teenage cop from a high-tech future is sent back in time to 1986 New York City. Dayoung Johansson is investigating the Quintum Mechanics megacorporation for crimes against time. As she pieces together the clues, she discovers the “future” she calls home – an alternate reality version of 2013 – shouldn’t exist at all!

Blast off with the new ongoing series by BRANDON MONTCLARE (Halloween Eve) and Eisner Award nominee AMY REEDER (Batwoman, Madame Xanadu).

$1.99

Comments

rafial — 6/14/14 @ 7:04pm

Issue Five of the digital version of this comic is missing the CBZ version.